Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-03

slight disdainful movement of her hand,
a flower at my left fell to the ground,
nipped off by the pliaut whip lash.
| swell, said l, losing what little pa
tience l had left, II will not allow it. u
And l made movement as if to arrest
her hand.
Then, all this is in earnest" said
she stepping back to avoid my grasp,
and eyeing me from head to foot in a
| defiant manner.
"Yes," cried I, Il am thoroughly in
earnest" but it was quite wrong of me
to add, "you have no feelings at all!'
She became slightly pale, aud, with.
out word of reply he passed hastily by
me. Giving short, downward swith
with her whip in the air at this time as
if cutting through an invisible obstacle,
she strode back to the chateau.
My first impulse was to follow so as
to try to appease her, but could not
muster up the courage to do so. Be-
sides, was still under the influence of
my foolish anger, not enough so, how.
ever, to make me unconscious of the
gravity of the offense conveyed by my
last words.
She retraced her steps along the path
we had been following. did not take
my eyes off her, but she never once
turned her head. When she entered
the avenue of chestnut trees lost sight
of her altogether.
My anger soon cooled down, began
more fully to understand the nature of
the quarrel that had taken place. l
could only sum it up in these two words:
"'Tis absurd"
Return to the house? why should j?
What could say? Justify myself? To
what purpose? The evil was beyoI d
remedy. Sue for forgiveness? Never!
Besides, to do SO l would have needed
more courage than l possessed Wait
ing seemed to me the best, though not
the most commendable plan.
In order to think over the matter
calmly, and to let events take their own
touse, passed through the thicket and
walked ON for while at random. I
soon reached the outskirts of small
grove, about 200 metres from the main
avenue of the chateau. Not wishing to
60 in yet, threw myself on the grass,
and with my eyes fixed on the house, l
waited. Toby stretched himself at my
feet.
A little later two horses were led into
the yard. Nine. de Stahl and her
daughter came down the steps alone,
mounted their horses and started off at
a gallop. Aroused by the slightest
noise Toby sprang off at full speed
toward them, barking as loud as he
could.
In passing by the grove the young girl
accidentally cast her eyes in my direc-
ton. Did she see me? Probably she
did, for she raised her riding whip and
brought it down whack! on the neck of
her charger. The surprised animal
reared up on his hind legs. To subdue
him she belabored him with blows.
which, verify believe, were not falling
on the shoulders she would have liked
them to. With ceaseless yelping Toby
escorted the enemy to the entrance of
the avenue; then, bounding back as fast
as his legs could carry him, he took his
place at my feet, growing still, but in a
tone which seemed to mean: 81 have
done my duty. haven't 1? Now let us
live in peace"
AS the sun began bending his course
to"aru tAe Hills ueciueu VI ieluihiHS
home.
For while l wandered around the
house, and then set out in search of
news. Above all things to be feared
was the reception my grandmother
would give me. At last spied my old
governess, who had looked for me in
every corner of the premises. I asked
her what she had heard.
She told me that Mile. de Stahl had
returned in furry giving orders to
have the horses saddled Immediately.
On entering the parlor she
related long story Of hedge, riding
whip and flowers, of which it was i'm.
possible to understand anything except
that had so far forgotten myself as to
insult my betrothed. Nine. de Stahl
had fully approved her daughters con.
duct. As to my grandmother, she
simply contented herself with uttering,
from time to time, CALCULATIONS of
surprise, insisting that it was an absurd
quarrel; that, most assuredly, l must
have been bereft of my senses. All this,
however, did not prevent her from ener-
getically undertaking my defense, when,
on finishing her recital. Mile. de Stahl
applied to me rather uncomplimentary
epithets.
II was not more than half reassured
when l entered the house. Wishing
above all things to explain matters to
grandmother, went Immediately to the
drawing. groom. Not finding her present,
l descended to the garden, but no one
had seen her. was then informed that,
after the departure of her two friends,
she had retired to her bedchamber.
came back that she was not feeling well
and desired to be left to herself.
/, also, went to my room, and at din
ner time found some cock.and.bull story
as an excuse for not going down. Two
or three annoying thoughts haunted me.
l was bewildered by the contemplation
of what would be the effect of my fool
ish anger; oil our plans upset, grand.
mother broken-hearted, my prospects of
future bliss cast away, and all on ac-
count of an absurd display of temper.
Night came on. Well aware that oil
endeavors to sleep would prove futile,
l leaned upon my elbow at the window,
and gave myself up to meditation.
Still, instead OF heightening my fan
cies or exasperating my feelings, as is
generally the case, night on the con.
trary seemed to allay them. 1t was as
if nature, whom I had endeavored to
defend, was now trying to mitigate my
cares. l perceived from afar, in the
starlight, the spot which had witnessed
my hastiness, and the sight afforded
such pleasing sensations to my mind
that even the shadow of regret was soon
efkced therefrom. repeated to myself
THE words of which had made use, and
fidally came to the conclusion that l
hdd no fault to accuse myself of.
II reflected on the freedom I had re-
aimed, my old time life which would
ume its quiet course in those peace.
spots loved so well, and ! fancied
W i everything far and wide, the mead
and the woods, with their millions
voices chanting in the gloom, the
and the fowers alive with n sense